Sunday, March 25, 2012

Apple will launch the iPhone 5 in October, according to Japanese blog Macotakara, a permanent change to the handset's release schedule to accommodate major changes of its flagship model.

The Cupertino, Calif.-based company unveiled the first four iterations of its smartphone at the World Wide Developers Conference in June, with a release following just a few weeks later. However, the iPhone 4S broke that tradition last year with a pre-holiday October launch, which led to the highest sales of an Apple handset ever.

A fall launch for the iPhone 5 after the successful release of the 4S last year will be a continued alteration to the way Apple normally does things, but it makes sense for the company. A June release of the next iPhone would put just nine months between its debut and the launch of the 4S, a move that could anger customers who shelled out for the 4S, while also stifling the shelf life of Apple's current device.

Analysts also expect the iPhone 5 to feature some of the biggest changes to the device since the iPhone 4, and Apple may need the extra time to iron out any lingering issues resulting from such a shift.

For example, the company's next iPhone will likely feature LTE support for both Verizon and AT&T's network, an addition that will likely have a significant impact on the device's battery life. Apple engineers will need to assure the iPhone 5's battery does not become a victim of faster data speeds, a common complaint leveled against several other LTE-capable devices.

The iPhone 5 will also feature a form-factor change, if Apple follows its usual cycle. The iPhone 3G and 3GS sported the same design before major changes came in the form of the iPhone 4, and the same thing could be expected after the 4S. Apple has not tipped its hand on the potential design changes to the iPhone 5, but most analysts are anticipating large alterations to the device's body, which could also be a reason for the fall release.

Customers may have to once again hold out longer than usual for the next version of the iPhone, but the device could feature a host of changes that make it worth the wait.